The Philosophical Journey: An Interactive Approach with Free Philosophy Powerweb

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One of the most enthusiastically received introductory books in recent years, The Philosophical Journey is a topically organized text presented in an interactive format designed to get students' philosophical intuitions flowing. The book's guiding metaphor of "explorers on a journey" makes readers active participants in ongoing discoveries. The message of this book is that philosophy is a vital activity and way of thinking that can be practiced and developed.

CHAPTER 1 Introduction to the Philosophical Journey: Where Are We Going and How Will We Get There?

1.0 Overview of the Journey

Philosophy and Aerobics

Philosophy and Love

Philosophy and Peanut Butter

Philosophy and Colds

What Do Philosophers Study?

What is the Practical Value of Philosophy?

Philosophy as a Journey

Guideposts for your Journey

Scouting the Territory

Charting the Terrain - What are the Issues?

Choosing a Path - What are my Options?

What Do I Think?

Key to the Questionnaire

Leading Questions

Surveying the Case For...

A Reading From...

Looking Through X's Lens

Examining the Strengths and Weaknesses Of X

Boxed Exercises

1.1 Socrates and the Search for Wisdom

Socrates' Life and Mission

Reading: Plato, from Apology

Socrates' Method

Reading: Plato, from Republic

Socrates' Teaching

1.2 Plato's Allegory of the Cave

Reading: Plato, from Republic

Evaluating Philosophical Claims and Theories

The Nature of Arguments

Review for Chapter 1

CHAPTER 2 The Search for Knowledge

2.0 Overview of the Problem of Knowledge

Scouting the Territory: What Can I Know?

Charting the Terrain of Knowledge: What Are the Issues?

Choosing a Path: What Are My Options Concerning Knowledge?

What Do I Think? Questionnaire on Knowledge, Doubt, Reason, and Experience

Key to the Questionnaire on Knowledge

2.1 Skepticism

Leading Questions: Skepticism

Surveying the Case for Skepticism

Early Greek Skeptics

Rene Descartes (1596-1650)

Reading: Rene Descartes, from Meditations on First Philosophy (1)

Reading: Rene Descartes, from Meditations on First Philosophy (2)

David Hume (1711-1776)

Reading: David Hume, from Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding (1)

Reading: David Hume, from Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding (2)

Reading: David Hume, from Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding (3)

Reading: David Hume, from A Treatise of Human Nature

Looking Through the Skeptic's Lens

Examining the Strengths and Weaknesses of Skepticism

2.2 Rationalism

Leading Questions: Rationalism

Surveying the Case for Rationalism

The Three Anchor Points of Rationalism

The Rationalists' Answers to the Three Epistemological Questions

Socrates (c. 470-399 B.C.)

Plato (c. 428-348 B.C.)

Reading: Plato, from Phaedo

Renee Descartes

Reading: Rene Descartes, from Meditations on First Philosophy

Looking Through the Rationalist's Lens

Examining the Strengths and Weaknesses of Rationalism

2.3 Empiricism

Leading Questions: Empiricism

Surveying the Case for Empiricism

The Three Anchor Points of Empiricism

The Empiricists' Answers to the Three Epistemological Questions

John Locke (1632-1704)

Reading: John Locke, from An Essay Concerning Human Understanding

George Berkeley (1685-1753)

Reading: George Berkeley, from A Treatise Concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge